American Athletic Conference men's basketball teams went 4-1 on Saturday (Dec. 19), including a big road win for UCF at No. 15 Florida State. In addition, Temple opened its season with a home win against NJIT.
East Carolina 73, James Madison 64 -
Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Suggs had 18 points off the bench to carry East Carolina to a 73-64 win over James Madison on Saturday.
Bitumba Baruti had 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals for East Carolina (6-1), which earned its fifth straight home victory. Tristen Newton added 14 points and six rebounds. Jayden Gardner had 13 points.
Matt Lewis had 19 points and six rebounds for the Dukes (2-2). Justin Amadi added 10 points and Terrence Edwards had eight rebounds.
Tulane 77, Grambling State 65 - Box Score
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jaylen Forbes had a career-high 21 points as Tulane beat Grambling State 77-65 on Saturday.
Gabe Watson had 18 points for Tulane (5-1). Jordan Walker added 11 points.
Prince Moss had 18 points for the Tigers (2-4). Cameron Christon added 16 points and nine rebounds. Kelton Edwards had 10 points.
Temple 72, NJIT 60 - Box Score
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — De’Vondre Perry recorded 12 points and 15 rebounds to carry Temple to a 72-60 win over NJIT in the season opener for both teams on Saturday.
Damian Dunn had 16 points and six rebounds for Temple. Jeremiah Williams added 11 points. J.P. Moorman II had 10 points.
Zach Cooks had 18 points for the Highlanders. Dylan O’Hearn added 11 points. Antwuan Butler had six assists.
UCF 86, No. 15 Florida State 74 - Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Mahan scored 26 of his career-high 32 points in the second half and freshman Isaiah Adams added 22 points as UCF knocked off No. 15 Florida State 86-74 on Saturday night, ending the Seminoles’ 27-game home winning streak.
Mahan shot 10 of 13 from the floor and 10 of 10 from the line as UCF (2-1) won for the first time in 12 games against the Seminoles.
Darin Green Jr. scored 20 points for the Knights, who opened the second half by making 6 of 7 3-pointers to pull away. UCF shot 27 of 54 (50%) from the floor and 9 of 19 (47.4%) from 3-point range.
M.J. Walker scored 22 points, two shy of a career high as the Seminoles (4-1) saw their streak of 41 straight home non-conference wins snapped.
Florida State shot 24 of 51 (47.1%) and 10 of 23 (43.5%) from 3-point range.
The Knights hadn’t played since a Dec. 6 loss at Michigan, but pulled off their first win over a ranked team since knocking off Cincinnati on March 7, 2019.
Georgia 83, Cincinnati 68 - Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Toumani Camara had 19 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday night, and Georgia beat Cincinnati 83-68, improving to 6-0 on the season for the Bulldogs’ best start since the 1982-83 Final Four team.
Camara had 14 points and eight rebounds in the first half when Georgia shot 56% from the field and pulled away to a 49-26 lead.
The Bearcats (2-4) were 2 of 17 (12%) from 3-point range in the first half and finished the game 5 of 29.
Cincinnati closed within 23-22 on Jeremiah Davenport’s layup with 7:32 left in the first half, but Georgia closed the half with a 26-4 run, including the last 15 points of the period.
Justin Kier added 18 points, Tye Fagan had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Sahvir Wheeler had 12 points and seven assists for the Bulldogs.
Davenport led the Bearcats with 18 points. Keith Williams scored 14 points and Tari Eason added 11.